Postage stamping machine



May 25, 1937. w. FRIEDRlcHs POSTAGE STAMPING MACHINE 3 sheet-sheer 1Filed Nov'. 4, 1952 T `LH ATTORNEYS.

W. FRIEDRICHS POSTAGE STAMPING MACHINE May 25, 1937.v

Filed Nov. 4, 1932 /3 Sheets-Sheecl 2 INVENTOR.'

Friedrichs BUY? ATTORNEYS.

May 25, 1937. w. FRIEDRICHS 2,081,806

POSTAGE STAMPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1952 s sheets-sheet sINI/EA/TOR."`

A TTORNEYS.

' Hwa/fw Patented May 25, 1937 UNITED STATES POSTAGE STAMPING MACHINEWilhelm Friedrichs, Berlin-Reinickendorf-Ost, Germany ApplicationNovember 4, 1932, Serial No. 641,282 In Germany October 3, 1927 9Claims.

This invention relates to postage stamping machines andhas for itsobject to provide a machine `of this character wherein the settingmechanism -is common to both the .printing mechanism and the countingmechanism, being permanently disposed in operative relation to bothmechanisms so as to prevent the fraudulent use of the postage stampingmachine and also to obviate possibility of error occurring in thetransfer of values set up in the printing mechanism to the countingmechanism.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine in whichthe simple operation of shifting a single setti-ng member simultaneouslyadjusts a printing member and sets up a value corresponding to theadjustment of the printing member which value, upon initiation ofoperation of the printing mechanism, is carried into the countingmechanism.

The Apresent application is a continuation in part of my applicationSerial No. 308,747, filed September 27, 1928, to which attention isinvited.

In the accompanying drawings wherein an approved embodiment. of theinvention is illustrated:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the `improved machine, the casing beingremoved.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine, cas ing and thecounter-'pressure roller device being removed.

Fig. '3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary `plan view of the machine showing the casing inposition.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the main shaft showing two setting devices,one being in elevation and the other lin section.

Referring to the drawingsin detail, Il! vindicates the vbase plate of aframe structure which also includes the end uprights II and the.intermediate upright I2. The rotatable printing drum I3 is located inthe space between the intermediate frame member andthe end frame memberIl and the counting mechanism designated generally at I4 is located intheframe at the opposite side of the intermediate upright I2. .Theprinting operation is effected by means of a main shaft .I5 rotatablymounted in the uprights Il and I2 and provided at its outer end with ahand ,crank I6.

The setting .mechanism .designated vgenerally at I'I is mounted on themain shaft |15 and is `constituted by a plurality of setting discs I8 Fall of which are confined vbetween collars I9 (c1. iol-e1) rigidlysecured to the shaft and coupled by rods .20 passing through the .discs.I8 and non-rotatably? securing the llatter ion the main shaft. Teeth`2I are mounted for radial movement in .guide slots :provided in eachsetting disc I8 and :these .teeth are projected loutwardly by a cam disc`22 having .a .cam-.shaped slot therein receiving lateral projections on.the teeth 2l. The portion .of ,the `machine casing v23 which encloses:the `setting mechanism is formed with slots 24 shown in Fig. .5 throughwhich the handles 25 .of the ;cam .discs 22 project and suitablyarranged vnumerals ranging .from 0 to 9 are arranged laterally of theslots 2'4 .to aid in setting Athegha-ndles 125 to the desired positions.

A setting gear 26 .associated with the printing mechanism to bedescribed in detail `hereinafter is Isecured to .each cam disc 22 and isturned therewith relatively to .the setting disc I'B dur.- ingadjustment of the handle 25. .pressed ipawl 21 is pivoted vto each ,gearwheel l:22 and cooperates ywith a toothed wheel 28 secured to the disc.I8 whereby the cam .disc and `wheel 25 `are yieldably -retained inadjusted posi Vtion against unintentional displacement.

Upon rotary movement .of the main shaft I5 the entire setting mechanism.moves therewith and `the yteeth 2| which have been .moved to operative:position mesh with pinions 30 and cause the ylatter to revolve. Thepinions 30 are in mesh .with :the gear wheels .3| of the severalAnumeral wheels I32 rotatably .mounted on a supporting lshaft 33, thenumeral wheels 32 having the numerals from 0 to 9 marked thereon andvisible through windows 34 provided in the kcas- :ing 23.

A gear -wheel 35 keyed to -the main shaft I5 lserves as .a driving gearfor effecting rotary movement lof the printing drum, as will hereinaftermore `fully appear and in addition operates the Ytens vtransfermechanism. vThe latter `mechanism includes a gear wheel 36 -which mesheswith the gear -wheel 35 and is rotatable on a stud 31. A segmental gear38 isfseou-red at one side of the gear wheel 36 and a stop disc 39having recesses 40 therein is 'secured at vtheother -sde of the seg.-mental vgear 38, the Vparts V36, 38, and 39 being secured together andmoving asa unit in response to rotary movementof the gear -wheel l35 andthe main shaft I5.

'The counting mechanism I4, as shown in Figs. 1 and2, is mounted in asupplemental Vframe 4I, the shaft 33 and the `shaft 30a of the pinions30 being journalled in the uprights -of said supplemental frame. Atransfer shaft l42 `is also `jour- A spring F20 nalled in the frame 4Iand an arm 43 is fixed to one end thereof. The outer extremity of thearm 43 is curved as at 44 in conformity with and normally engages thecircumferential edge of the stop disc 39 whereby the shaft l2 isnormally held against rotation. A gear wheel 55 is secured to the shaft42 laterally of the arm 43 and is adapted to mesh with the segmentalgear 38 when the teeth thereof move into operative position with respectto the gear wheel 135. Pairs of star wheels 46 and 4'I are arrangedbetween the shafts 33 and 42 and a pair of said wheels is associatedwith each numeral disc 32. Each starwheel is provided with three pointsor teeth and the teeth of one star Wheel of the pair are displaced withrespect to those of the other wheel. The star wheel 46 normally occupiesa position permitting free rotation of the gear wheel 3l as during thecounting movement of the discs 32 but, upon being turned a fraction of arevolution, one tooth thereof engages the adjacent gear wheel 3i andmoves the latter the distance of one tooth thereof. The other star wheel4l of this pair is arranged in the path of a radially projecting toothI3 of the counting disc 32 of the next lower denomination and a tooth ofthe latter star wheel 41, as the numeral disc 32 last mentioned passesfrom 9 to 0, is engaged by the tooth 48 and is turned through an anglesufficient to position another tooth of the star wheel 4l in the path ofa radial projection 49 on the shaft 42 and thus, when the shaft 42 isrevolved, the movement of the projection 49 is transmitted to a tooth ofthe star wheel 41 and the latter acting on the star wheel 45, causes thelatter to advance the numeral disc 32 of the next higher denominationthe distance of one tooth.

As will be understood, the value set up in the setting mechanism I'I istransferred to the numeral discs 32 during the rst half of therevolution of the main shaft I5 while during the second half of therevolution of said shaft the teeth of the segmental gear 38 whichrevolves with the gear wheel 35 are moved into mesh with the gear wheel45 and the rotation of the projections 49 carried by the shaft 42effects the operation of the star wheels 43 and Il through which thetens transfer is effected.

The printing drum I3 is provided with a hub 5I which is rotatablymounted in the intermediate upright I2 and provided with a gear wheel 52meshing with the gear wheel 35 whereby rotary movement is imparted tothe printing drum I3 during rotation of the main shaft I5. The hub 5I isof hollow form and receives a plurality of telescopic shafts 53 arrangedone within the other and the innermost shaft of which is solid andjournalled in a bearing 54 in one of the end uprights of the frame. Thehollow telescopic shafts 53 terminate in stepped relation and carry gearWheels 55 each of which meshes with the gear wheel 2G of one of thesetting discs so that when the cam discs 22 are turned to adjust theteeth 2l the rotary movement of the discs 22 is transmitted to theshafts 53 through the gear wheels 25 and 55.

The several shafts 53 terminate within the hollow drum I3 in steppedrelation and each carries a gear wheel 56. Intermediate the shafts 53and the rim of the drum I3 a shaft 57 is secured in the side walls ofthe latter and supports a plurality of type wheels 58 corresponding innumber to the number of setting discs I8 and the peripheral portions ofthe type wheels project through an aperture provided in the rim of thedrum I3. VThe several type wheels 58 are arranged in spaced relation andreceive the gear wheels56 therebetween, said gear wheels 55 meshing withgear wheels 59. As will be understood, one gear wheel 59 is secured toeach type wheel 58 whereby the latter are adjusted during the rotarymovement of the shafts 53 through the intermediary of the gear wheels 55and 59.

A locking pawl is pivotally mounted at @I in the drum I3 and is providedwith a plurality of teeth respectively engaging the several gear wheels59. Within the drum, the multiple pawl 99 is connected with an arm 32which latter is connected with a spring 63 normally retaining the teethof the multiple pawl in engagement with the teeth of the several gearwheels 59 whereby the latter are prevented from accidental orunauthorized displacement during the printing operation. Externally ofthe drum I3 the supporting shaft 5I of the multiple pawl is connectedwith an arm carrying a roller 34. A releasing lever 65 is pivoted at 65on the inside of the upright I I and the upper end thereof is normallyretained in engagement with the stop in (il carried by the upright II bythe tension of a spring 38 connected at one end with the lower extremityof the releasing lever 65 and at its opposite end to a pin 59 located onthe inside of the upright II. The upper extremity of the lever 65 isprovided with a laterally projecting operating pin 'l0 which projectsthrough a slot providedin the upright II to the exterior of the machineand its casing whereby the releasing lever 65 may be actuated. Theroller 5 is so disposed that when the drum I3 is in the position ofrest, as shown in Fig. 4, said roller lies directly in the path ofswinging movement of the upper extremity of the lever 65 and thus, whenthe operating pin 'It is pressed forwardly, the multiple pawl 59 isswung on its pivot 5I and, disengaging the gear wheels 59, permits thelatter to freely turn as the cam discs 22 are operated in the act ofsetting up a value in the machine. However, following the setting upoperation the lever 65 is released, and as the printing movement of thedrum I3 is initiated as by the operation of the operating crank I6, theroller 64 moves out of the path of the lever 65 and the spring 63automatically brings the multiple pawl 55 into locking engagement withthe gear wheels 59, thereby positively locking the type wheels 59against readjustment during the printing operation.

A casing I2 for the article feed device for the printing mechanism isarranged above the printing drum I3 and supports a shaft "I3 on which apair of angular levers 'I4 is pivotally mounted. One lever 'I4 carries acounter pressure roller I5 located immediately above the printing drumI3 and the other lever I4 carries a feed roller it. Both levers i4 arenormally urged downwardly by the tension of springs Il and they may belifted. to an elevated position by means of a slide lil which is mountedto move longitudinally on guide pins 'I9 secured in the casing 'I2 andis provided with inclined surfaces 39 engaging pins 8l fixed to thelever T14. Thus, when the slide i3 is moved rearwardly, the inclinedsurfaces 8B thereof coact with the pins 8| to shift the levers 'I4 andelevate the rollers l5 and i6 to inoperative position. A feed roller 82is arranged below and cooperates with the roller 'I6 and is positivelydriven during the operation of the machine through an intermediate gearwheel 83 meshing with a gear wheel Bilfixed to the hub of the printingdrum I3.

In the operation of the machine, the type `Wheels .58 are set :to aposition to print a desired value by suitable adjustment of the setting.arms 25, the movement of the .setting discs .22

operating to simultaneously vproject a corresponding number of teeth '2land to set the type wheels 60. The setting movement of .the type wheels.60, as will lbe understood, is effected during turni-ng movement of thecam discs 22 through the rgear wheels 2,6 which revolve with the camdiscs '22 and rcause the gear wheels 55 and the associated shafts 53 torotate also. The

rotary movement of the shafts 53 and the gear lever :65 by displacingthe operating pin TID thereof forwardly. This displacement of the lever65 causes the multiple pawl 60 to be swung outwardly thereby releasingthe pinions 59 and permitting rotary adjustment of the pinions of thetype wheels 58. Having set the printing mechanism to the desired value,the article to be postmarked is introduced between the rollers 'IB and82, and'upon initiation of rotation of the main shaft I5, as byoperation of the crank I6, the article is fed rearwardly by the rotarymovement of the feed roller "82, and during the rotary movement of theprinting drum I3, the postage value expressed by the adjustment of thetype wheels 58 is impressed upon the article. Coincident with theprinting operation, the projected teeth 22 of the several setting discsI8 actuate the respective pinions 30 associated with the related numeralwheels 32 and the latter are advanced. During the transfer of the valueset up in the setting mechanism I'I to the numeral wheels 32, no rotarymovement is imparted to the gear wheel 65, but during the second half ofthe revolution of the main shaft I the teeth of the segmental gear 38enter into mesh with the gear wheel 45 and revolve the shaft 42, the arm43 passing through one of the recesses 4G in the disc 39 during theinitiation of the revolution of the shaft 42. If, during the transfer ofa value from the setting mechanism to the counting mechanism I4 one ofthe counting discs 32 passes from 9 to 0, the tooth 48 of that numeraldisc engages the star wheel 41 and displaces the latter to such positionthat during the rotary movement of the shaft 42 which succeeds theadjustment of the numeral wheel S2, the arm 49 engages the star Wheel 41which has been thus displaced from its normal position and, acting onone of the teeth of said star wheel, causes the latter to revolvetogether with its companion wheel 46 and the latter, cooperating withthe gear wheel 3| of the numeral disc 32 of the next higherdenomination, causes the last mentioned numeral wheel to advance.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the operation of setting avalue in the setting mechanism I'I simultaneously and unalterably sets acorresponding value in the printing mechanism due to the fact that thegear wheels directly mounted on the setting cams 22 are permanentlycoupled with the printing discs through the gear train 26, 55, 56, and59. Having set the desired value, the crank I6 is operated and theprinting drum I3 is set in operation by the intermeshing gear wheels 35and 52, the gear wheels 26 revolving in a unit in their adjustedpositions with the shaft I5 and the gear Wheels :55 meshing andrevolving with 4Vthe gear wheels `26.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described, a setting mechanism, arotary printing drum having printing members therein coupled with andadjustable by said setting mechanism, means for imparting rotaryprinting movement to saiddrum,

`said setting mechanism moving with said moving means during theprinting movement of the drum and remaining coupled with said printingmembersk during the printing operation, and means operative uponinitiation of lthe :printing movement of the drum to lock the printingmembers in adjusted position.

2. In a machine of :the character described, a setting mechanism, arotary printing drum having printing members therein coupled with andadjustable by said setting mechanism, means for imparting rotaryprinting movement to said drum, said setting mechanism moving with saidmoving meansduring the printing movement of the drum and remainingcoupled With said printing members during the printing operation, meansoperative upon initiation of the printing movement of the drum to lockthe printing members in adjusted position, and means operable only whenthe drum is in its position of rest to engage and release said lockingmeans.

3. In a machine of the character described, a rotary printing drumincluding relatively adjustable printing members located therein, asetting mechanism including a plurality-of setting members mounted toturn about a common axis removed from the axis of said drum andconstantly connected with said printing members for settingthe latter,and means for imparting rotary printing movement to said drum, the lastmentioned means being disposed coaxially of said setting members.

4. In a machine of the character described, a rotary printing drumincluding relatively adjustable printing members located therein, asetting mechanism including a plurality of setting members mounted toturn about a common axis removed from the axis of said drum andconstantly connected with said printing members for setting the latter,means for imparting rotary printing movement to said drum, and meanscarried by said drum to lock said printing members in adjusted position.

5. In a machine of the character described, a rotary printing drumincluding relatively adjustable printing members located therein, asetting mechanism including a plurality of setting members mounted toturn about a common axis removed from the axis of said drum andconnected with said printing members for setting the latter, means forimparting rotary printing movement to said drum, means to lock saidprinting members in adjusted position and means mounted independently ofsaid drum and engageable with said locking means when said drum is in aposition of rest to move said locking means to inoperative position andpermit adjustment of said printing members.

6. In a machine of the character described, a main shaft, a rotaryprinting drum axially displaced from said shaft and including aplurality of relatively adjustable printing members, a setting mechanismcarried by the main shaft and including a plurality of independentlyadjustable setting members, means constantly connecting each of saidsetting members with one of said printing members whereby the printingmembers and setting members are simultaneously adjusted,

and means for imparting rotary movement of the main shaft to theprinting drum.

7. In a machine of the character described, a main shaft, a rotaryprinting drum axially displaced from said shaft and including aplurality of relatively adjustable printing members, a setting mechanismcarried by the main shaft and including a plurality of independentlyadjustable setting members, means constantly connecting each of saidsetting members With one of said printing members, and means forimparting rotary movement of the main shaft to the printing drum, saidmeans connecting the setting members with the printing members includinga plurality oi' telescopic shafts arranged concentrically of theprinting drum.

8. In a machine of the character described, a setting mechanism, arotary printing drum having printing members therein coupled With andadjustable by said setting mechanism, means for rotating the drum toprinting position, said setting mechanism moving with said moving meansduring the printing movement of the drum and remaining coupled With saidprinting members during the printing operation, locking means for theprinting Wheels normally eiective, and lock releasing means ineiTectiveWhen the drum is out of printing position.

9. In a machine of the character described, a printing drum rotatableabout a iixed axis, a plurality of printing members mounted in said drumand relatively adjustable to diierent set positions, a shaft rotatableabout a fixed axis removed from the axis of said drum, a plurality ofsetting members mounted on said shaft for rotation to diiierentpositions and constantly connected with said printing members to set thelatter, means to impart rotary movement to said drum including operatingconnections between said drum and said shaft, and means carried by saiddrum to lock said printing members in set positions.

WILHELM FRIEDRICHS.

